Apparatus, system  and method for making and using an elastic shoelace with a hollow core

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, system and method have a shoelace with a length defined between two ends. The shoelace is made from an elastic material that folds to join at a seam extending lengthwise along the shoelace. A hollow core is defined in the shoelace and extends along the length of the shoelace. An aglet is attached to an end of the shoelace to insert into an eyelet in a shoe. The shoelace stretches in response to tension applied to the aglet. The shoelace stretches to accommodate insertion of a foot of a wearer into the shoe. The shoelace contracts to retain a foot of a wearer in the shoe. The shoelace extends in a direction away from the shoe to loosen the shoe. The shoelace is made from a synthetic fiber material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a system and a method for making and using an elastic shoelace with a hollow core. More particularly, the invention relates to a shoelace made from an elastic material, such as spandex and/or elastane, which may stretch to accommodate insertion and/or removal of the foot of a wearer into a shoe, such as an athletic sneaker.

Shoelaces to tie and/or otherwise secure a shoe and/or a sneaker via threading through corresponding eyelets provide support for daily activities. Generally, adults may manipulate a relatively intricate shoelace to thread the shoelace into the shoe and later tie the shoelace into a knot, for example, to secure the shoe. However, young children and/or elderly persons with, for example, deteriorating motor skills, hand-eye coordination and/or dexterity, may encounter difficulty in untying and/or re-tying shoelaces.

Accordingly, such persons are left without recourse in terms of footwear with traditional shoelaces and may be forced to wear shoes and/or sneakers with, for example, hook-and-loop type straps. Shoelaces made from elastic material permit the wearer of such shoelaces to slide his or her foot into the shoe by pulling the shoelaces to loosen the shoe. The elastic shoelaces may then return into a natural and/or retracted position to hold the foot of the wearer within the shoe.

Such elastic shoelaces are generally used with stoppers or plugs to hold the elastic shoelaces in position against the shoe and/or to prevent the elastic shoelaces from becoming undone during use, such as during playing sports. The stoppers are small and often misplaced.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,539 to Ivanhoe discloses an elastic lace for running shoes with several elastic strands covered by a textile thread woven around the group of elastic strands to form an elongated web. The elastic laces may not appear different from traditional laces. Moreover, the shoelaces may unravel, creating an issue for the wearer. To address the issue of elastic laces unraveling, U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,548 discloses a system for securing a shoe with a dual cord fastener adapted to allow shoelace ends to pass through the fastener to lock in place. The fasteners necessitate changes to the shoe be made to use the same. Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,204,689; 8,931,146; 7,549,201; and 6,681,459 generally disclose other known elastic shoelaces.

Known methods, apparatuses or systems for fastening shoes via elastic shoelaces are known but have drawbacks, such as failing to allow for repeated use without unraveling. Thus, a need exists for an elastic shoelace that resembles a traditional shoelace and may withstand repeated use without unraveling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a system and a method for making and/or using an elastic shoelace with a hollow core. More particularly, the invention relates to a shoelace with a hollow core. The shoelace may be made from an elastic material, such as spandex and/or elastane, which may stretch to accommodate insertion and/or removal of the foot of a wearer into a shoe, such as an athletic sneaker.

The invention provides an apparatus having a shoelace defined by a length between two ends. The shoelace is made from a substantially elastic material folded to attach to itself along a seam extending lengthwise along the shoelace. A hollow core of the shoelace is defined by the elastic material folded along the seam. An aglet extends from the end of the shoelace to thread into a corresponding eyelet in a shoe. The shoelace stretches in response to tension applied to the aglet to accommodate insertion of a foot of a wearer into the shoe and contracts to retain the foot in the shoe during use.

Additionally, the invention provides a system having an elastic shoelace that laces into a shoe. The elastic shoelace stretches to accommodate insertion of a foot into the shoe. The elastic shoelace is made from a substantially flat elastic material. A seam may extend along the elastic shoelace. A hollow core of the elastic shoelace may be formed by rolling the substantially flat elastic material to attach to itself along the seam.

Further, the invention provides a method for wearing and/or using a shoe with shoelaces. The method has the steps of attaching an aglet onto an end of the shoelace wherein the aglet may extend from the shoelace to be inserted and/or threaded through eyelets in the shoe. The shoelace may be extended to accommodate insertion of a foot of a wearer into the shoe. A hollow core may be formed in the shoelace by folding the shoelace to attach to itself along the seam. The shoelace may contract to retain the foot of the wearer in the shoe.

Accordingly, it is an advantage of the present invention to provide an apparatus, a system and a method for making and/or using an elastic shoelace with a hollow core.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a shoelace made from an elastic synthetic fiber material.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a shoelace with a hollow core that reduces the weight of the shoelace.

Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide an elastic shoelace that loosens upon being pulled in a direction away from the shoe.

A further advantage of the present invention is to provide an aglet extending from the elastic shoelace wherein the aglet laces into the shoe.

A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide an elastic shoelace that expands to loosen the shoe.

A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide an elastic shoelace that contracts to tighten the shoe.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and from the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a prior art slide-on shoe.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a sneaker in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a sneaker in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates side view of a pair of hollow elastic shoelaces elongated lengthwise view of in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a partial side view of a pair of hollow elastic shoelaces in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a partial side view of a seam of a hollow elastic shoelace in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7A illustrates a perspective view in cross-section of a hollow elastic shoelace in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7B illustrates a perspective view in cross-section of a hollow elastic shoelace in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. Further, numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.

Referring to FIG. 1, a prior art slip-on shoe 100 is shown. In an embodiment, the slip-on shoe 100 may be, for example, an espadrille, a loafer, a moccasin and/or a driving moccasin referred to as a “driver” which receives the foot of a wearer through an orifice 108 that opens to the interior of the slip-on shoe 100. The foot of the wearer may insert into the slip-on shoe 100 via the orifice 108 to expand an elastic region 112 as necessary to slide and/or fit the slip-on shoe 100 around the foot of the wearer. The elastic region 112 may be flexible to expand to accommodate the foot of the wearer upon insertion into the orifice 108. A front section 102 may receive the toes and/or middle of the foot of a wearer, which may slide into the slip-on shoe 100 along a side 104 of the slip-on shoe 100.

The slip-on shoe 100 may have a heel support 110 and a midsole 106 that may extend longitudinally along the slip-on shoe 100. To wear the slip-on shoe 100, a wearer may force his or her foot through the heel support 110 to crush a region A on the heel support 110, rather than sliding his or her foot into the orifice 108 of the slip-on shoe 100. Over time, the heel support 110 may deteriorate at the region A which may compromise the overall integrity of the slip-on shoe 100. As a result, the slip-on shoe 100 may require disposal and/or replacement.

Referring to FIG. 2, a shoe 16 is shown with a shoelace 10 that may be threaded through corresponding eyelets 34 on the shoe 16. The shoelace 10 may be sized to correspond with the number, width and/or orientation of the eyelets 34 on the shoe 10. In an embodiment, the shoelace 10 may be made from a substantially flat elastic material that may be folded and/or rolled to attach to itself along a seam 40, which may extend along the shoelace 10. Alternatively, in an embodiment, the shoelace 40 may be formed with multiple seams extending along the shoelace 40. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the method of making the shoelace 10 by folding substantially flat elastic material to attach to itself along the seam 40 is exemplary, and that the shoelace 10 may be made with other shapes, sizes, orientations and/or configurations of one or more seams along the shoelace 10.

As a result, the shoelace 10 is formed with a hollow core 46. The shoe 16 may be any type of shoe that uses a shoelace, such as a dress shoe and/or an athletic sneaker, such as a running shoe, tennis shoe and/or fashion sneaker. The shoelace 10 may be made an elastic synthetic fiber material commonly referred to as “spandex,” a specific type of which may be LYCRA, a registered trademark of INVISTA, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc. One of ordinary skill in the art that the use of “spandex” is exemplary and that other suitable elastic materials and/or combination of elastic materials may be used to make the shoelace 10. A front section 14, of the shoelace 10, may be threaded through eyelets 34 that may be positioned toward a mesh area 18 on the shoe 16.

In an embodiment, the shoelace 10 may have the hollow core 46, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. The hollow core 46 may provide volume and/or structure to the shoelace 10, which may accordingly resemble a traditional, i.e. non-elastic, shoelace that may be substantially cylindrical and/or tubular with a generally circular cross-section. Accordingly, a wearer of the shoe 16 with the shoelace 10 may generally be indistinguishable from someone wearing a shoe with a traditional shoelace, for example. The shoelace may also be significantly lighter than a traditional shoelace due to the hollow core 46 of the shoelace 10.

The shoelace 10 may be extended by the wearer of the shoe 16 in a direction B and/or a direction C to pull opposing sides 26 of the shoe 16. Accordingly, the shoe 16 may be secured around the foot of a wearer. An outsole 24 may extend lengthwise along the shoe 16. A toe-piece 20 may attach the outsole 24 to the mesh area 18. A toe cap 22 may be positioned at a point forward of the mesh area 18 to assist walking with the shoe 16. Further, the toe cap 22 may extend from the outsole 24 which may connect to an arch-support cushioning piece 28 beneath a heel support 30 which may support the heel of a wearer of the shoe 16.

Referring to FIG. 3, the shoelace 10 is shown which may generally loosen the sides 26 by being pulled in a direction D away from the shoe 16. To wear the shoe 16 with the elastic shoelace 10, the wearer may first thread the shoelace 10 through a notch 12 on a tongue 32 of the shoe 16 and through the eyelets 34. Prior to inserting his or her foot into the shoe 16, the wearer may pull the shoelace 10 in the direction D away from the shoe. Accordingly, the sides 26 and the tongue 32 of the shoe 16 may loosen to accommodate insertion of the foot of a wearer into the shoe 16.

After insertion of the foot of the wearer into the shoe 16, the shoelace 10 may contract and/or otherwise revert, i.e. snap-back, to an original position to secure the foot in the shoe 16. No additional endpiece, stopper and/or clip may be needed to secure the elastic shoelace 10. After threading and/or lacing through the shoe 16 and/or the eyelets 34 and tying and/or securing to the shoe 16, the shoelace 10 may be worn without the shoelaces 10 becoming undone. Thus, wearers of the shoe 16 with the shoelace 10 may use the shoe 16 with the shoelace 10 for an extended time. The shoelace 10 is, therefore, particularly suitable for young children and/or the elderly who may insert and/or remove their feet from the shoe 16 by extending the shoelace 10 in, for example, the direction D as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, a pair 36 of the shoelaces 10 is shown. In an embodiment, the pair 36 may be stretched in a direction F, to accommodate threading into the shoe 16. The pair 26 may revert to an original unstretched position after being stretched in either the direction F and/or the direction G.

Referring to FIG. 5, a close-up view of the pair 36 of the shoelaces 10 is shown. An aglet 38, a type of endpiece that may be made of acetate, plastic and/or a similar substantially rigid material, may connect to and/or extend from the shoelace 10 to accommodate fitment and/or threading of the shoelace 10 into the shoe 16 and/or the eyelets 34.

Referring to FIG. 6, the shoelace 10 is shown with a seam 40 that may extend along the length of the shoelace 10. In an embodiment, the shoelace 10 may be formed from substantially flat elastic material which may roll to attach to itself at the seam 40 to form the shoelace 10 with the hollow core 46 as shown in, for example, FIGS. 7A and 7B.

In an embodiment, the shoelace 10 may be approximately 5 mm in diameter. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the shoelace 10 may be made with other dimensions and/or diameters ranging, for example, from approximately 1 mm to 10 mm. The shoelace 10 may appear similar and/or identical to a traditional shoelace and/or a shoelace that may have a solid core. Further, the shoelace 10 may fit into the eyelets 34 of the shoe 16. Moreover, the shoelace 10 may be used in any type of shoe 16.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the shoelace 10 is shown with the hollow core 46. The shoelace 10 may be defined by a thickness 44 that may be, for example, in the range of 0.5 mm to 2 mm. The hollow core 46 may be defined by an interior circumference 42 of the shoelace 10. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the thickness 44 and/or the interior circumference 42 of the shoelace 10 may have varying dimensions. Specifically, FIG. 7A shows the shoelace 10 with a given thickness 44. FIG. 7B shows the shoelace 10 with the thickness 44 which is different than that shown in FIG. 7A.

In an embodiment, a method for wearing and/or using the shoe 16 with the shoelace 10 may have the steps of attaching the aglet 38 onto an end of the shoelace 10. The aglet 38 may extend from the shoelace 10 and may be inserted and/or threaded through the eyelets 34 in the shoe 16. The shoelace 10 may be extended to accommodate insertion of a foot of a wearer into the shoe 16. A hollow core 46 may be formed in the shoelace 10 by folding the shoelace 10 to attach to itself along the seam 40. The shoelace 10 may contract to retain the foot of the wearer in the shoe. The shoelace 10 may be made with various internal circumferences 42. The shoelace 10 may be expanded to fit the shoe 16. The shoelace 10 may remain resilient after continued use.

Although the preceding description has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, it extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods, and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. An apparatus comprising: a shoelace with a length defined between two ends wherein the shoelace is made from an elastic material that folds to join at a seam extending lengthwise along the shoelace; a hollow core in the shoelace wherein the hollow core extends along the length of the shoelace; and an aglet attached to an end of the shoelace to insert into an eyelet in a shoe wherein the shoelace stretches in response to tension applied to the aglet.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shoelace stretches to accommodate insertion of a foot of a wearer into the shoe.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shoelace contracts to retain a foot of a wearer in the shoe.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shoelace extends in a direction away from the shoe to loosen the shoe.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shoelace is made from a synthetic fiber material.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the length is defined between a first end and a second end positioned opposite to the first end of the shoelace.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the shoelace may correspond to an interior circumference of the shoelace.
 8. A system comprising: an elastic shoelace that laces on a shoe wherein the elastic shoelace stretches to accommodate insertion of a foot into the shoe and further wherein the elastic shoelace is made from an elastic material; a seam extending along the elastic shoelace; and a hollow core of the elastic shoelace formed by folding the elastic material to join to the elastic shoelace along the seam.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the elastic shoelace loosens from pulling the shoelace in a direction away from the shoe.
 10. The system of claim 8 further comprising: an aglet extending from the elastic shoelace wherein the aglet laces into the shoe.
 11. The system of claim 8 wherein the elastic shoelace expands to loosen the shoe.
 12. The system of claim 8 wherein the elastic shoelace contracts to tighten the shoe around the foot of a wearer.
 13. The system of claim 8 further comprising: an uniform internal circumference of the hollow core.
 14. The system of claim 8 wherein the shoelace is sized to correspond with eyelets on the shoe.
 15. A method comprising: folding an elastic material defined by a first side and a second side parallel to the first side to attach the first side to the second side along a seam of a shoelace; attaching an aglet on an end of the shoelace; and lacing the aglet into an eyelet in a shoe.
 16. The method of claim 15 further comprising: expanding the hollow elastic shoelace to accommodate insertion of a foot of a wearer into the shoe.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein an internal circumference of the hollow elastic shoelace corresponds with a thickness of the shoelace.
 18. The method of claim 15 wherein the elastic material is made from a synthetic fiber.
 19. The method of claim 15 further comprising: contracting the hollow elastic shoelace to fit the shoe around the foot of a wearer.
 20. The method of claim 15 wherein the shoelace reverts to an original position upon the release of tension applied to the shoelace. 